The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 268: Why Is He the One Eating Meat?

"Aunt Tong, I’m begging you, please give Chun Ni and me a way out."

"My mother-in-law and Fugui just want to exchange Chun Ni for silver. If Chun Ni and I can both earn silver, they won’t marry Chun Ni off as a child bride to that fool in the name of silver."

"Only you can save Chun Ni and me now. Please hire us for work, I can do any dirty or tiring tasks."

Mrs. Cao was afraid Tong Huaqiong wouldn’t want to hire her, so she suddenly kneeled in front of Tong Huaqiong.

Chun Ni followed and knelt as well.

She knew that this was almost a form of coercion towards Tong Huaqiong.

But she really had no other choice; working as a hired hand at Tong Huaqiong’s house was her only way out at the moment.

If she had another option, she wouldn’t have come to plead with Tong Huaqiong.

Tong Huaqiong said, "I can hire you to work in my fields, but I can’t guarantee that Tian Fugui and Yan Pozi will change their minds about not marrying Chun Ni off as a child bride."

From Tong Huaqiong’s perspective, Mrs. Cao still had unrealistic hopes regarding Tian Fugui and Yan Pozi.

She thought Chun Ni got beaten because she was a "worthless girl," and that their situation would change if she and Chun Ni could earn silver.

Mrs. Cao might end up disappointed.

However, Mrs. Cao’s willingness to take this step, her unwillingness to let her daughter become a child bride, already made her more insightful than other women in the village.

In the area of Qinghe Bay, many girls were child brides from a young age. For instance, Mrs. Cao’s mother-in-law, Yan Pozi, was a child bride too. They were brainwashed from a young age to think they were worthless, needing to sacrifice for their brothers at home and for their sons and grandsons at their in-laws’.

They not only held themselves to that standard but also dragged their daughters-in-law, daughters, and granddaughters into it as well.

It’s really hard to change.

Compared to them, Mrs. Cao loved her son and couldn’t bear to sacrifice her daughter. Tong Huaqiong was willing to help someone like Mrs. Cao.

Moreover, looking at Chun Ni’s pitiful appearance, Tong Huaqiong couldn’t bear to see her become a child bride to the fool.

Upon hearing that Tong Huaqiong was willing to hire her, Mrs. Cao was so emotional that she burst into tears, choking up, not knowing how to thank Tong Huaqiong.

She dragged Chun Ni forward to kowtow to Tong Huaqiong, but Tong Huaqiong stopped them.

To be honest, as someone who possessed a modern soul, Tong Huaqiong still couldn’t handle people kneeling so easily in this place.

"Aunt Tong, thank you. I know... I know that your house doesn’t lack workers. You took pity on Chun Ni and me and that’s why you agreed. I’ll do whatever work you want, and I’m fine with getting half the pay or even none," Mrs. Cao cried.

Chun Ni cried along and said, "Grandma Tong, I can gather grass for pigs or work the fields."

Mrs. Cao patted Chun Ni’s head and said to Tong Huaqiong, "Chun Ni is still small, so just don’t pay her."

Tong Huaqiong replied, "Since I’m hiring you, if you work well, your pay will be the same as other workers. As for Chun Ni, have her gather grass for the pigs first."

Who said she didn’t need workers? Soon, the corn would be ready for harvest, and there were more than twenty pigs in the pen. She definitely needed help.

As for Chun Ni, there’s no need to worry about child labor or not.

In all honesty, Chun Ni would have to work at home anyway. Even if she didn’t work at Tong Huaqiong’s, she’d still have to work elsewhere or as a child bride, and that’s just an unchangeable fact.

By working at Tong Huaqiong’s, at least she’d be given easier tasks. If she performed well, she might learn a skill like Liu Xiuxiu, Liu Yueer’s niece.

That would depend on Chun Ni’s own fortune.

"But you must know, my place isn’t a sanctuary; it’s a workplace. To put it frankly, if your husband or mother-in-law comes here causing trouble for you and Chun Ni, I can protect you for a while, but not indefinitely. If such trouble hinders my work, I will have to let you go."

Mrs. Cao nodded, "That’s only natural."

Mrs. Cao indeed held some fantasies about Tian Fugui and Yan Pozi. She thought that as long as she and Chun Ni worked and earned money at Tong Huaqiong’s and didn’t neglect anything at home, maybe her in-laws wouldn’t marry Chun Ni off as a child bride in light of their earnings.

As for Chun Wang, all the money she and Chun Ni earned would be saved up for his future marriage.

When Chun Wang grew up, he’d understand.

Mrs. Cao wiped away her tears and stood up.

"Take this medicine."

Tong Huaqiong handed the medicine to Mrs. Cao and instructed her on its use, bringing another wave of gratitude from Mrs. Cao.

Tong Huaqiong and Mrs. Cao agreed that she could start working in the fields the next day.

Mrs. Cao was overjoyed and eager to start earning money as soon as possible.

After Mrs. Cao bid farewell, Tong Huaqiong shook her head and sighed.

She feared Mrs. Cao was thinking too simplistically.

Tong Huaqiong wasn’t afraid of Tian Fugui and Yan Pozi causing trouble at her place.

By now, Tong Huaqiong was the most capable person in Qinghe Bay, especially with her experiences and triumphs over Yan Pozi and Xu Yong. They likely wouldn’t dare.

No matter how capable Tong Huaqiong was, she couldn’t brazenly meddle in their family affairs here; she could only offer Mrs. Cao and Chun Ni a chance to work, providing them temporary shelter.

It was unrealistic at the moment for Mrs. Cao and Chun Ni to leave the Tian family. As they say, the economic foundation determines the superstructure. One must have a foothold first before discussing independence.

Actually, Tong Huaqiong had another way to free Mrs. Cao and Chun Ni from the Tian family’s control.

For now, she kept it to herself because even if she suggested it, the current Mrs. Cao wouldn’t accept it.

...

Mrs. Cao left Tong Huaqiong’s place with Chun Ni, thinking she had found a solution to prevent Chun Ni from becoming a child bride.

She felt happy in her heart, and even the places injured by Tian Fugui’s beating didn’t hurt as much.

Fearing her mother-in-law and Tian Fugui’s displeasure, she and Chun Ni turned over the vegetable patch, washed the clothes at home, and swept the entire house from inside to out, yard included.

After finishing all this, Mrs. Cao and Chun Ni were exhausted, their entire bodies sore, and the pulling on their injuries caused them to be slower at cooking.

As it was just getting dark, Chun Wang came back home and yelled loudly when he saw no dinner ready, "I’m starving, why isn’t dinner ready yet."

Mrs. Cao, fearing her son would go hungry, said, "There’s still some meat left from yesterday in the pot. You can have that first."

And with that, she had Chun Ni bring the meat to Chun Wang.

Chun Wang glared at Chun Ni and said harshly, "You didn’t steal a bite, did you?"

Chun Ni shook her head.

Chun Ni recalled what Tong Huaqiong had explained about fairness between people. Why did Chun Wang get to eat meat while she’d be beaten nearly to death for having a piece?

Why indeed?

From a young age, she cooked and did housework, standing on a stool to reach the stove to fry dishes.

Chun Wang did nothing, yet ate the best, wore the finest, and bullied her with impunity at home.

Chun Ni touched the scar on her forehead.

It was left from when she was pushed by Chun Wang for being too slow frying, hitting the stove.

Why?

Fire surged in Chun Ni’s heart as she picked up a nearby fire poker, wanting to beat Chun Wang.

Chun Wang, satisfied and with oil dripping from his mouth, bit a large piece of fatty meat and said, "Yaozu gets to eat meat every day; if only our meals were like Widow Tong’s household."

Chun Ni clenched the fire poker in her hand.

"You worthless girl, what are you standing there watching me eat for? What is it, you want some? Do you think you deserve it?"

Chun Ni raised the fire poker.

Mrs. Cao swiftly stopped her.

Chun Wang frowned and said, "Does this worthless girl want to hit me with a poker?"

Mrs. Cao comforted Chun Wang, "How could your sister hit you? You’ve misunderstood."

Chun Wang cast a sidelong glance and continued eating the meat, saying while chewing, "If she dares to hit me, Father and Grandma would beat her to death."